Tuesday, 30 June 2009

Chris, The Form Guru has been having a thin time of it this month but a couple of good winners today has put a bit of gloss on things. Still a losing month for the service though.

SLH played on both his mainline and exchange services, and although he managed a big priced second place - it was a losing night for him.

The only other action on a pretty quiet day came from Noseahead, who advised Eleanor Eloise (unplaced) at Brighton.

Overall, a small profit on the day and June finishes with me showing a profit of £5,092 on the month which is obviously very pleasing. Just shy of £25,000 for the first half of the year and I'm delighted with that.

No bets this week, but an update of the profits to advised stakes at the halfway point of the year.

Reckon I would have lost about £3300 over the eight days had I been betting, so a good time to take a break.

The golf salvaged something on the week, and it could have been so much better of course - Goosen traded odds on in running I've read elsewhere, not sure how close Moore and Mahan got during the tournament but they both ran good.

Back from a very nice refreshing break and ready to push on again now.

Had my first bets in over a week today (Monday), still got a couple to run so will update today's results later on.

However, first I need to update the blog for results of bets placed on the Saturday of Royal Ascot.

I will also give a full rundown of all bets advised by the various services while I was away - and I think it's fair to say my break was pretty well timed. There were a few close calls again with the golf, and a good profit achieved this past weekend but the big one continues to prove elusive for the time being at least.

Rang the SLH messages during the week to keep my records up to date, but the rest of the tips are texted or e-mailed so collected those on my return (just 247 mails in my inbox last night !).

Saturday 20 June

Proved to be a losing day, although had Cannonball won instead of finishing second, then it would have been a very different story.

Struggled with the advised prices as I knew I would, as I was driving and so was late with the calls and only had the option of betting with Bet365 - no time, or inclination to call elsewhere only to be given the runaround.

Just the loss on the US Open Golf bets to post for Sunday, missed a winner from Maths and a couple of successful lays from SLH. i'm assuming the in-running lay of Wikaala was matched, but please let me know if that wasn't the case.

Friday, 19 June 2009

The Form Analyst fires in a third straight winner, Tipping Legends win over 20 points on the day, and I put a couple of the tips together and land a big forecast !

Still got one or two selections to run tonight as I start typing this up, but it's been a fantastic day - put me in a great mood and I'm ready for my break now.

Graeme, The Form Analyst was very sweet on the chances of Summer Dancer in the first at Musselburgh. He's put this up twice before in the last month - first time up the race wasn't run to suit, and last time out his chance was compromised by the rain softened ground.

This was Graeme's summary of the horse's chance today...I said this last time when I tipped it but the key to Summer Dancer is a fast run 7f and a clear passage through the race to make a challenge. Last time at Musselburgh two starts ago, my issue was no pace in the race and it ran a remarkable race to finish 6th. Today, there’s tons and tons of pace in here. Simply, they could go very fast and set it up for Summer Dancer to travel well through the race and pick them off.

If you saw the race, that's pretty much exactly what happened - another great piece of analysis and a big profit. The only sour note was that the favourite Azure Mist wouldn't go into the stalls and so there was a 30p rule 4 deduction - however Graeme was confident we'd got the measure of this one !!!

Bonus for me on this race , Anthony (Nose Ahead) put up Viva Volta as a win bet at 9/1 - had to give best to Summer Dancer but ran a great race, especially for me as I decided to put the two together in a reverse forecast.

A terrific start to the day, and it just got better and better.

Tipping Legends, had a poor day yesterday but bounced back in style today, with two winners and two places at Royal Ascot.

The clear highlight was Perfect Stride in the Wolferton Handicap, put up as a 2pt bet at 10/1. Managed to get 11/1 with Ladbrokes for half my bet, and got the rest on at 9/1 and 10/1.

Nice bit of analysis from JC here as well on this one....I really like the chances of this one. first run as a 3yr old saw him quietly fancied for the 2000 guineas but a rushed preperation & the whole affair proving too much on only his 3rd start saw him down the field. Showed that that confidence wasn't misplaced when winning easily from a very good field on fast ground here at ascot. Doesn't seem to like any undulations with 2 poor efforts at Goodwood & a couple of poor ones at newmarket. here at Ascot though he has that win i mentioned plus a close 2nd in a decent little listed race. back into handicap level & with going & course perfect, alongside a nice high draw I'm surprised you can still get double figures on this one.

Followed this up in the next race with Holberg, advised each way at 10/1 drawing clear in the furlong to win the Queen's Vase by four lengths and add to what had already become a memorable day.

The two places were Rainbow View, who had no luck in running after being given an awful lot to do by Jimmy Fortune, and Your Old Pal who had to give best to Henry Cecil's winner Father Time - TL's other pick in this race Free Agent came fourth.

Equine Investments recent disappointing run continued with Stone of Scone playing up before the start and then running prominently, rather than his usual held-up style. Was struggling turning for home, and was eased in the straight to finish last. He was found to be lame after the race.

As well as Viva Volta, Nose Ahead also had Slugger O'Toole in the last at Ascot - but he was kicking himself after the race as he gave a favourable mention to Giganticus but felt the pace in the race would all be on the far side. Anthony's doing some good work but it isn't quite clicking for him at the moment, but it won't be long he's on the winning trail again.

Chris, The Form Guru found one winner on the day with Sonny Parkin, although the advised price of 6/1 was not there by the time the message was received. His 3 point bet on Fleeting Star went west, which wasn't too surprising as the horse drifted from 3/1 to 8/1 !

Last bet of the day was Storyland for theformguru.com who got a shocking ride from Kirsty Milczarek, who decided to go for a gap on the far rail at Goodwood and duly got put out of the race when the gap closed.

A great day though, and a new high for the year - over £25,000 in front now, which is amazing really.

As I said yesterday, I will be betting tomorrow but the next update here will be either next Saturday or Sunday. Wish you the best of luck with your betting between now and then.

Thursday, 18 June 2009

A historic day as Yeats won the Ascot Gold Cup for the fourth time and Ffos Las racecourse opened it doors for it's very first meeting.

But as my betting is concerned, it's not a day that I will look back on with any affection. Indeed for a while, it looked like I might make my own piece of history and post my worst ever loss.

Veracity was my worst result with Tipping Legends, Equine Investments and an ante-post bet from Optimum Racing all going west. The horse was prominent for much of the race, but was fading when something went wrong with him and he was pulled up and dismounted by Dettori - hopefully he will live to fight another day.

It was misery all round really, with not a single winner being advised.

Chris, The Form Guru has had a series of big priced places recently and that continued today with Secret Society second at 22/1 (beaten a head), and Barwell Bridge third at 16/1.

Tipping Legends current special isn't going too well so far this week, and the only return was from Chiberta King, a half point each way bet at 9/1 - beaten by a 66/1 shot. Even then they lost on the race as their other selection Kimberley Downs was unplaced.

SLH had a rare bet on the flat, but his each way double came unstuck in the first leg, but on his Exchange line he advised a lay of Ffos Las Diamond in the first race at the new track, and thankfully he was correct to oppose the favourite which finished unplaced.

Maths selections both ran very poorly, and as he also doubled them up it was a 3 point loss on the day for him.

Just one of those things, a very bad day - and my third big loss in five days.

As I've said previously, I am going on holiday on Saturday so tomorrow's update will be the last for a week or so. I will be betting the Saturday selections, but then I am having a complete break from betting for a week.

Need to recharge the batteries, since I came back from my long holiday in October last year, I think there have been just four days when I haven't had a bet and two of those were Christmas Day and Good Friday ! So I'm ready for a break.

Wednesday, 17 June 2009

Another great day for Graeme, The Form Analyst with Spacious winning at 11/1. A great tactical ride from Johnny Murtagh, as Spacious kept finding in the final furlong to stave off the challenge of Heaven Sent.

Unfortunately that was one of only two winners today and it ultimately proved to be a losing day.

It wasn't for want of trying though as I had second places at 28/1, 12/1 and 12/1 as well as thirds at 18/1 and 14/1.

SLH gave two out on the day - Prince Massini advised as a three point win bet ran a shocking race, but his second bet Truly Fruitful (had £100 at 12/1), was in the lead and going best when crashing out at the second last at Worcester - was matched at 1.12 in running.

The only other winner was Miss Phoebe, one of two selections for Maths - the other one Amazing Blue Sky performed almost as badly as the tipping service of the same name !

More placepot woe as well today - crashed out in the first race, which was a shame as I safely negotiated the other five legs - would have had it for £7.20 had I managed to get past the first. Still I suppose it's better to go out in the first rather than the last which is what I did yesterday.

Very disappointing to come out on the wrong side of things today, as I felt it was a better day than the final figures showed.

Still no damage done, and plenty of opportunities left this week to add to the profits for the year to date.

Tuesday, 16 June 2009

The first day of Royal Ascot today, but my profits came courtesy of the 5.45 at Thirsk.

The Form Analyst advised a 1 point each way bet on Twosheetstothewind at 9/1. I've decided to increase my stakes on TFA selections to £100 per point to bring the overall staking in line with most of the other services I am using. For a change my timing was spot on as the horse won well at an SP of 5/1. Slight mistake inputting one of my bets - £20 win instead of £20 e/w but not worried about that !

Nose Ahead also played in the same race with an each way bet on Jilly Why (previously advised last weekend). Unable to achieve the advised 33/1 (with Stan James) which was no problem as the horse drifted back out to that price on the off, and the majority of my stake was placed BOG. Jilly Why finished fourth, overcoming the disadvantage of a low draw, to collect a nice profit on the bet.

Most of my other bets on the day were at Ascot but it was a case of backing winners for no reward really, as I lost on the meeting despite having four winners.

SLH advised a three point lay of Mastercraftsman on his excahnge line and it looked like I would collect as Delegator got his head in front in the final furlong. However Mastercraftsman battle back to gain the day in the last 100 yards to win by a neck.

Maths advised Mastercraftsman as a win bet, also went with Scenic Blast and Gladiatorus - which was also Equine Investments' only bet of the day.

First day of Tipping Legends special for this week, with winners from the first and last bets of the day, and a place from Gala Evening at 28/1 (adv - which I missed), resulted in a small profit on the day and something to build on for the rest of the week.

A welcome winner from Chris, The Form Guru with Judgethemoment at 9/1 (advised) as well as an each way place with Aqlaam at 11/1 - which was a loser for Making It Pay.

Had a placepot, which went down in the final race despite having 4 in the race - but I could have had 4 more and probably not got one in the frame. The final dividend of £3775 was entirely due to the last race, where £5690 was in the pool before the race but only £87.90 after it.

Monday, 15 June 2009

Not the start to the week that I wanted, as I book a four figure loss for the second day running.

Just one place from 15 bets is a pretty sorry return, although 20/1 (twice), 10/1 and 9/1 all missed the frame by one place, and Mystified raced on his own on the far side beaten half a length - hope the rest of the week is better !

Very disappointing day, with the only return from the advised bets being SLH's place lay of The King Of Angels. Tipping Legends had three tips and three places, but nothing to come with the closest being Ivory Silk who was beaten a head.

Equine Investments' tip was Diane's Choice who drifted ominously before the race, and finished fourth of six having raced keenly initially, and then getting hampered in the final furlong when beaten. Managed to salvage a bit on the race by laying Palace Moon in the photo - the official margin being a nose !

Nothing doing on the golf again this week, and I've now gone behind on the year. The profit to advised stakes reached a high of 82 points back in February, but we've been having a thin time of it in the last few weeks and the profit for the year now stands at 27 points. No returns of note since I increased stakes back in April, so a winner would be very welcome. It's the US Open next week so see how we get on.

Saturday, 13 June 2009

Another couple of hundred quid in the bin today thanks to a couple of winners from Tipping Legends with Brassini and Veiled Applause, their biggest bet of the day Efistorm finished second.

Chris, The Form Guru continues to hit the bar at the moment with two seconds today at 16/1 and 10/1.

The other return was a successful place lay of Iona Star from SLH, his other recommendation - an in-running lay of Longdale at a maximum price of 3.0 was not matched, with the lowest price traded being 3.2.

No bets this evening, which means an early finish and a relaxing evening ahead. Got a couple of bottles of something nice to get stuck into later :-)

Nothing to shout about on the golf this weekend as Sergio Garcia has missed the cut in the St Jude Classic, Cristie Kerr is out of contention in the McDonald's LPGA championship and the third bet advised this weekend Rebecca Hudson in the Ladies Open of Portugal will also miss the cut. The final event was only priced up by Skybet, and they would only allow me £6.82 each way of the £50 e/w I asked for - their loss !

Friday, 12 June 2009

Another top class performance from SLH at Aintree this evening - two bets advised and two more winners - a win bet on Shiwawa and an each way double on Shiwawa and Gonebeyondrecall, with both horses winning and another big profit secured.

Elsewhere though, it was a pretty disappointing day - the only other winner was from Chris, The Form Guru with Nemo Spirit which won at 12/1 (adv) but that was one of ten horses he gave today, his final bet Millfields Dreams was beaten a short head into second having traded at 1.03 in running. Some good runs from his tips today though, so hopeful he'll have a big day before long.

Maths had three selections which were all beaten, and there was no joy from Equine Investments either, although my loss on their bets was less than it might have been as I missed the price on Direct Debit.

Was a minute or two late on-line as my Dad had called round to see me. The top price of 20/1 had gone, Bet365's 16/1 went between my clicking on oddschecker and logging in (cut to 10/1), so the only bet I got was the £20 e/w @ 14/1 which Ladbrokes allowed me. Within five more minutes the top price available was 7/1 and I wasn't going to take that.

Making It Pay were interested in two horses today, advised both as singles and as an each way double - the first horse Sir Isaac came second at 6/1, had just got the better of long time leader Pride Of Kings inside the final furlong and then he was collared by Yirga who won well. The second leg, Leceile refused to go into the stalls and was withdrawn.

I was fortunate with Nose Ahead's bet today - an each way bet on Stoneacre Lad at 25/1. Was struggling to get the price with the so-called bookmakers and so went to Betfair, where there were also four places despite the field being reduced to 13 altough under the bookmakers place odds - the horse duly finished fourth, missing out on the first three by just a head.

Thursday, 11 June 2009

Another great day with Tipping Legends and SLH leading the line today.

Tipping Legends had two winners tonight with Knock Em Dead at 10/1, and El Bandindos at 8/1 both advised to 0.5 pts each way.

SLH played the 7.0 Fontwell on both his main and exchange line. His mainline bet was a 2 pointer on Working Late. Managed 11/2 for my win bet comfortably beating the SP of 11/4. His excahnge bet was a place lay of Millenium Mag, who trailed in 4th and my lay - which was matched in-running - was successful.

The only real setback of the day came from with the Equine Investment bet on Tyfos. 1Had £150 win @ 5/1 and £25 win @ 6/1 this morning. However a heavy shower this afternoon at Yarmouth on watered ground saw the going changed to soft (good to firm this morning).

EI sent out an e-mail 45 minutes before the race started saying that he wouldn't have advised the horse had he known the going would be soft and that he was passing on his thoughts should we want to adjust our positions. The horse obvioulsy would stay on the account but if he was looking at the race now, he wouldn't be betting on it.

I took my cue from the message and laid off £100 worth of the bet, leaving me with £75 on it. Traded in and out on the favourite pre-race to improve the return should the horse win, which of course it did, but you have to act on the information received and I've no complaints. Had I been working today, I wouldn't have seen the e-mail and so would have been paid in full on my winner, but it's just one of those things.

Besides I've won nearly 2K again today so I'm pretty happy with the days events !

Wednesday, 10 June 2009

Felt pretty flat when I was writing up the results last night, however today was much more to my liking !

Graeme, The Form Analyst, selected Only A Game in the 2.30 at Beverley - think the (edited) write up below speaks for itself !

Statto will be laughing at this one and so will a few of you when you realise the trainer's recent record but I'm going to go with Only A Game here.... when this made its debut for I McInnes at Wolverhampton in May, I put it up as one to watch. It was 50/1 that day and ran a very eye-catching race. It was over 6f and it had lots of early pace and travelled well but then faded down the straight.

I then saw it was running last time and I didn't mention it. It was 33/1 that day and it ran a remarkable race again. It was 5th of 16 and just stayed on one pace in the last 2f. It raced on the worst of the ground that day on the rail and came out 4th best I think on merit....Today, they drop it back down to 5f for the first time in a long, long time and I think this could be ready to strike...Unfortunately, the trainer is in the sort of run that makes my tipping look good!

His last 28 runners haven't even placed (most have run a shocker) and he hasn't had a winner for a month and a half. Going back further than that, he's had very few winners in the last 9 months....Clearly, people aren't daft when it comes to trainer form and no one will be backing this one today apart from TFA followers and me!

It is well drawn today and everything looks booked for a run if it can break on terms and get a good position. It might just outstay these up the hill.

1 point each-way on Only A Game at 25/1

That was some pick, but it was found by a few others today and won at an SP of 12/1, I did manage to get the best of the morning prices. The two other TFA selections were unplaced.

Tipping Legends also had a good day with Ezdeyaad benefitting from a fine ride by Paul Mulrennan to win at 8/1.

Two wins on the evening card at Kempton with Final Victory and Silaah scoring for SLH and The Form Guru respectively.

Tuesday, 9 June 2009

The first race I played in today was the 3.35 at Redcar. Equine Investments put up Dream Lodge and both Tipping Legends and Chris (TFG) gave Observatory Star. It turned out that EI got it right with Dream Lodge beating Observatory Star into second. I decided to play the forecast here and won £800 on the race.

However things went from bad to worse after that and I ended up losing nearly £600 on the day. It happens, but it is a big let down when you get set-up early for a great day only for it to all go wrong later on.

Monday, 8 June 2009

Just a few bets on what was a quiet day, with the only notable runs being Papillio getting edged out by Billy Beetroot at Folkestone, and in the last at Windsor Sarasota Sunshine was second to the 25/1 shot Miss Hollybell.

Sunday, 7 June 2009

Decent week to start June, despite a bad day on Friday, which gets the annual profit back over 20K again.

Just over a week to go to Royal Ascot, and then I've a holiday coming up on 20 June. Not sure yet whether to take a complete break for the week, but it would be good to have a rest from the daily routine of doing this - think there's only two days since Christmas Day that I haven't had a bet !

See how I feel nearer the time, the 20th is the final day of Ascot so I might play that day and then have a break.

Anyway, that's a while away yet and as always there's plenty of action scheduled for next week. Best of luck with your betting !

Nice winner from SLH on his all weather service, Realism advised each way at 7/1. Now I still do these win only, and so picked up the extras today. Overall so far this year, my strategy isn't as profitable as the advised stakes - but there's not a lot in it really, so I will stick with it.

Otherwise, there was nothing else to add to the total - Gregory Bourdy finished up four under for the tournament and tied for 10th, two shots out of the money. Shot four rounds of 70 - but didn't make any progress today, an eagle at the 18th got him under par for the day, so ultimately the nine in his opening round proved very expensive.

It's been very frustrating following the golf over the last few weeks, with four players in the top ten in the last four weeks, and three more in the top 15 but none of them in the frame. Got to be patient, as the wins and places only come round every now and again - signs that the big one is not far away, just need to wait a bit longer.

Back later with the weekly round-up and a couple of comments to reply to, which I will try and do later on.

Saturday, 6 June 2009

Tipping Legends haven't been having a good time of it over the last few weeks, and following yesterday they had their work cut out to make anything of their Epsom special.

However, all of yesterday's losses were cleared in one hit when River Captain was an easy winner of the first, having been advised at 25/1. They followed up with Indian Trail which won at 11/1 (10/1 adv), and also landed places with Storyland (9/1 adv) and Northern Dare (25/1 adv) which both finished 4th - happily today, there were four places in both races !

Struggled with the prices on River Captain and Northern Dare - didn't get any of the 25/1 on either of the horses, had to take down to 16/1 on Northern Dare - the bet having to be split between four bookies before I got it all on.

Graeme, The Form Analyst, has been in great form recently but today wasn't so good with Kiwi Bay in third the best of his four selections.

As an extra to his service, he is currently looking in to placepots as a bi-product of his form analysis and he put one together for Epsom today. Unfortunately it went down in the first leg, but I used his work in combination with a few of the other tips and managed to get £1.60 worth of the £341.40 pot up for a profit of £384 on the bet.

Equine Investments had an each way bet on Tepmokea, which ran into the aforementioned River Captain, and came second - but still a good profit on the bet.

A three point loser from SLH was disappointing, Make It Pay and High Class Equine's bets both finsihed second, and theformguru.com's each way bet did the honourable thing and came fourth, caught on the line for the place !

Chris, The Form Guru had one winner - Coin Of The Realm, advised each way at 9/1 with Stan James. Regardless of the fact I can't get anything on with Stan James, the price wasn't there. According to oddschecker they cut it to 8/1 at 9.33 - the e-mail was sent at 12.48. Not the first time I've noticed this either.

This game is hard enough without chasing round for prices that were never there in the first place, or only available with tin pot firms like Sportingbet. No excuses for it guys, get it sorted !

The Derby of course was won in great style by Sea The Stars. Now this was given out as an ante-post bet by Isiris last October - 8pts win advised at 20/1 according to their newsletter at the end of last year.

I was on a long break at the time, or just returning from it and of course I haven't backed it. According to the newsletter, the bet was given out on 14/10/08 - I was back by then, but I don't remember the message, and I certainly didn't back it !

There were three other ante-post bets given out during that break which all lost, and a couple of un-successsful sports bets as well last year and I didn't back any of these either. Sea The Stars was one that got away though !

Finally, the golf might yet be interesting tomorrow. The two selections in the US have both missed the cut, but I've got Gregory Bourdy running for me in the Welsh Open e/w at 80/1. Now I was following the European Tour website on Thursday afternoon and Bourdy was leading at -5 after 14 holes of his first round. Checked back half and hour later and he had taken NINE on the 15th and dropped back to level par ! However he's managed to hold himself together pretty well and he is currently tied 7th with one round to go - two shots off the lead, and one off the place money. Had some near misses in the last few weeks, so hoping for the best tomorrow.

Friday, 5 June 2009

Tipping Legends failed to find a winner on the first day of their Epsom special, indeed they didn't even get a place.

That doesn't tell the whole story though - anyone who's been reading the blog for a while will know that I have an aversion to each betting and this afternoon showed why. No fewer than four of their each way selections finished fourth.

The last race at Epsom was particularly frustrating with Parisian Pyramid trading at 1.82 in-running for the win, and getting caught right on the post for third place ! Not sure of the wisdom of advising two horses each way in a 15 runner handicap though (the other was 5th)

Maths had two seconds from his selections at 16/1 and 9/1, the second beaten by the horse he put up as a saver - which I didn't back !

Maths account bet showed a profit when Tartan Gigha won the 2.10, but the main stake was lost on Bencoolen who usually races prominently, but held up today and never sighted.

Equine Investments had a second and a third with Look Here - beaten two noses having traded 1.05 in running.Frustration all round really, although there were one or two highlights.

Thursday, 4 June 2009

When you have £175 on a 13/2 winner and still end up losing nearly £900 on the day, you're not going to be too thrilled but that was the story of the day.

Once again, only one winner today - again from Equine Investments with Baizically, advised at 13/2 - but with a 25p rule 4 deduction, isn't that always the way ! Still I comfortably beat the SP of 3/1.

Nose Ahead gave out a 1pt e/w bet on Esteem Machine at 33/1. The horse missed the break, was hampered during the race at least three times including in the last 100 yards and finished beaten less than two lengths - in fourth ! Gutted with that result, every chance the horse could have won with a clear run and certainly would have placed.

Tale of woe elsewhere - Chris, The Form Guru couldn't find any winners but had two each way places at 12/1 and 20/1, as well as two seconds at 13/2 and 11/2 both advised win only.

Tipping Legends ultimately advised three horses, although gave out four tips in their original e-mail. One was eventually retracted as they claimed to have given out the wrong horse, I didn't back it as I was late picking up the first message but it will count in the weekly results round up on Sunday. Not sure what was going on there today, but it was a strange one.

Epsom Derby meeting starts tomorrow, and another Tipping Legends special. Let's hope they're back on form for this one !